Asian Cup round-up: UAE beaten by Iran, Bahrain edge past Qatar

Sport360 staff 16:01 19/01/2015
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  • Iran's Ashkan Dejagah (R) and Reza Ghoochannejhad celebrate.

    Substitute Reza Ghoochannejhad scored in the first minute of stoppage time Monday to give Iran a thrilling 1-0 win over the United Arab Emirates and top spot in Group C of the Asian Cup.

    – UAE coach Mahdi Ali won't just play for draw against Iran

    Ghoochannejhad, nicknamed "Gucci", headed the ball past keeper Alireza Haghighi after a scramble in the box to send the majority-Iranian crowd of over 11,000 into raptures.

    The win means Iran will now play the runners-up in Group D in the quarter-finals, probably Iraq or Jordan, and avoid a likely clash with defending champions Japan.

    The entertaining match looked headed for the first draw of the tournament until the Charlton Athletic forward popped up with the winner, beating the offside trap.

    The match produced some of the most exciting football of the tournament as the two teams went for all-out attack.

    In a fast-paced opening to the game both teams had good chances as the play went from end to end.

    Omar Abdulrahman (r) and Javad Nekounam compete for the ball.

    UAE's Khamis Esmaeel unleashed a blistering shot from 25 yards out that just sailed wide, before teammate Omar Abdulrahman caused Iranian flutters when he ghosted into the box on the 10-minute mark, only for the defenders to put the ball behind for a corner.

    However, the Iranians came storming back and had two great chances of their own, first Sardar Azmoun's shot was deflected for a corner and then Alireza Jahanbakhsh headed straight to keeper Majed Naser.

    UAE went close again three minutes before the break when Ali Mabkhout fired a dangerous ball across the face of goal but a sliding Habib Al Fardan arrived just too late to meet it.

    The second half was just as thrilling as both teams threw everything they had at each other without creating any clear scoring chances.

    But just when the draw seemed certain Iran's super-sub sealed the win for the three-time champions.

    Late Ahmed chip leaves Qatar red-faced

    The Bahrain players enjoyed Sayed Ahmed's late goal against Qatar.

    Sayed Ahmed scored a glorious late chip as Bahrain shattered Qatar 2-1 and left the future World Cup hosts ruing a string of missed chances in their Asian Cup dead rubber on Monday.

    With both teams already eliminated, the match in Sydney was heading for a draw until Ahmed spotted Qatar 'keeper Qasem Burhan off his line and embarrassed him in the 82nd minute.

    The defeat was a disaster for Gulf Cup champions Qatar, who came to Australia with high hopes but leave with much to ponder as they build towards the 2022 World Cup.

    With little but pride at stake at a cool, damp and sparsely attended Stadium Australia, both sides showed little caution as chances flowed at both ends.

    Qatar's Ali Asadalla had the goal at his mercy but chose to pass, and striker Mohammed Muntari nearly scored three with his head in the first half, crashing one effort off the post.

    Hasan Al Haydos had a shot cleared off the line while at the other end, Bahrain's Shubbar also shuddered the upright with a header before he made the breakthrough on 32 minutes.

    It was a rather feisty affair between these two sides.

    The Moroccan-born Faouzi Aaish ran through a crowd of defenders and cut back to Shubbar, who checked before picking his spot and ramming Bahrain ahead.

    Qatar's Boualem Khoukhi forced a point-blank save from Hamed Aldoseri before half-time, and their frustrations grew after the break when Muntari had a goal ruled out for offside.

    The eventual equaliser was soft, as Al Haydos's grass-cutting free kick crept under the leaping wall and into the bottom right corner on 68 minutes.

    Muntari kicked the post in anger when yet another flying header sailed narrowly over, and he was guilty of a howling miss on 78 minutes when he shot wide from six yards out.

    And Qatar were made to fully regret their missed opportunities eight minutes from time, when Ahmed saw his chance and chipped perfectly past the stranded Burhan.

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